416 ' FINE ARTS. 



Imagination, with unbounded view, 



The wide creation in perspective drew: 



The pathless ocean, earth's stupendous frame. 



For ever* changing, ever still the same 



Its system, and immutable its laws. 



As pre-ordain'd by The Eternal Cause. 



Then darkly follow'd the amazing thought 



Of countless worlds, with moral agents fraught !— 



Oh ! how unutterable was my sense 



Of all these wonders of Omnipotence ! 



How deep my gratitude and silent pray'r, 



For all the hourly blessings, which we share ! 



Just then I heard the hounds and hunters cry, 

 And Desmond^ second of the three, rode by, 

 (In prime of youth, of high Milesian race) 

 Exerting every nerve to join the chace. 

 He pass'd like lightning, — in a moment more, 

 Crush'd by his fallen horse and wounded sore, 

 He speechless lay, unconscious as the dead, 

 And grief and horror with the tidings spread : 

 His manly bearing and good will to all, 

 Pierc'd many a breast with sorrow for his fall. 



Last of ilie three, whom I forbear to name, 

 From motives, which profound attention claim, 

 (Lest praise deserv'd should wound his modest ear, 

 And trutli a worldly compliment appear), 

 Of eye acute, a connoisseur refin'd, 

 Prepares the richest banquet for the mind. 

 The chambers of his stately mansion hold 

 Treasures more precious far than mines of gold ; 

 Kare wonders, by the magic pencil wrought, 

 Which mimic life, and seem endued with thought. 

 Contending passions on the canvass glow, 

 Love, hate, and fear; — alternate joy and woe : 

 There, pictur'd fair, are seen, in groups sublime. 

 Sages and Heroes chronicled by Time, 

 Who kingdoms founded, or who thrones o'erturned. 

 Or for the common weal with ardour buru'd ; 

 Beauties^ for whom imperial rivals sigh'd ; 

 And Martyrs, who with holy rapture died. 



Unask'd, unthought of, free permission came, 

 And left me at a loss my thanks to frame. 

 A stranger as I was, allow'd access. 

 My strong impression how can I express ! 

 How speak my admiration and surprise. 

 When these superb productions met my eyes ! 



From room to room, in mute delight, I pass'd. 

 And still methought each room must be the last ; 

 But others vieing, in their turn display'd 

 Successive miracles of light and shade. 

 Strange buildings, people, dresses, arms, I view'd. 

 And ages, long gone b)-, appear'd rcnew'd ; 

 Nations, forgotten in oblivious gloom. 

 Rose, as it were, in triumph from the tomb ; 

 Like Shakspeare's royal phantoms, " in a glass," 



* Ever changing: appearances, with the changes of the seasons > but the seasons ever 

 the same in their revolutionB, by the will of the Eternal. 



